The sad commentary about Kogi state will continue as long as Governor Yahaya Bello continue to get his priorities wrong. His juvenile approach to governance and politics is getting worse by the day.
For a state that is owing workers and pensioners between five and thirty nine months backlogs of unpaid entitlements, the first thing expected of the Governor when April allocation hit the state account about two weeks ago is to pay salary and pensions. However, our dear Governor Bello has chosen to spend the allocation on paid endorsements for an unmerited second term in office.
Since the last allocation dropped about two weeks ago, the government house has become a casino where different political gamblers stroll in, endorse the debtor Governor and get their share of the booty. From traditional rulers to well known political jobbers, the endorsement jamboree has continued unabated.
A bewildered populace wonders which is more important; payment of outstanding salaries and pensions or endorsement from people who will not partake in Bello’s party primaries? We are aware the Governor is putting up all these shows to convince leaders of his party that he deserves a second term ticket. All these paid endorsements are geared towards same purpose – prove to Oshiomhole and other party leaders that I am the best option for APC. The average civil servant and pensioner in the state care less about all that! What we want is our salaries and pensions paid as at when due.
Will the royal father endorsing Bello up and down queue up during APC primaries to elect the party’s candidate for November election? How many of these hired ‘endorsers’ have what it takes to give Bello what he desperately desires, APC ticket?
If one may ask, when will Doctors, Teachers, Judiciary workers, Nurses and other civil servants on the state employ storm government house casino to endorse Yahaya Bello?
This is the third Ramadan fast under Governor Bello and it is noteworthy that Kogi workers observed the three seasons without salaries. We do sincerely pray this will be the last Ramadan will observe with Bello as Governor of Kogi state. Ameen.
– Adamu Ojonugwa writes from Lokoja.
